Utility vehicle cowl assembly

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a cargo rack for a utility vehicle. The cargo rack comprises a base structure, a front wall structure extending upward from the base structure and having a top edge, a pair of opposing sidewall structures, wherein each sidewall extends upward from the base structure and having a top edge, and a back wall structure extending upward from the base structure and having a top edge. The cargo rack base structure is structured to be disposed within a reservoir of a vehicle front body cowl such that the entirety of the cargo rack base structure is disposed within the cowl reservoir.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/042,420 filed on Feb. 12, 2016, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present teachings relate to utility vehicles, and more particularlyto a front body cowl assembly for utility vehicles.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Most utility vehicles that are not designated for use on roadways, e.g.,all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility task vehicles (UTVs), recreationaloff-highway vehicles (ROVs), etc., typically provide a passengercompartment having one or more small article storage bins, wells and/orpockets located in and/or around the dash structure and instrument panelfor holding or storing various user articles such as cell phones,sunglasses, hats, gloves, food, drinks, small hand tools, etc. However,due to their typically smaller size, users often find it infeasible tostow personal gear such as backpacks, duffle bags, sleeping bags,smaller camping equipment, rifles, handguns, bows, etc., in the smallarticle storage bins, wells and/or pockets provided in the dashstructure.

Some known utility vehicle, such as those described above, provide acargo rack disposed above a front cowl of the vehicle forward of thepassenger compartment. Such known front cargo racks are typicallyinstalled above the top surface of the cowl such that the rack isdisposed at a height that is above the top surface of the dash and/orinstrument panel of the vehicle. This positions such known front cargoracks well within the line-of-sight of the vehicle occupants(particularly the vehicle driver), thereby reducing the operator'sfield-of-view and visibility. Moreover, when gear or cargo is stored insuch known front cargo racks, the occupant's field-of-view andvisibility is further reduced.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a cargo rack fora utility vehicle. The cargo rack comprises a base structure, a frontwall structure extending upward from the base structure and having a topedge, a pair of opposing sidewall structures, wherein each sidewallextends upward from the base structure and having a top edge, and a backwall structure extending upward from the base structure and having a topedge. The cargo rack base structure is structured to be disposed withina reservoir of a vehicle front body cowl such that the entirety of thecargo rack base structure is disposed within the cowl reservoir.

In various other embodiments, the present disclosure provides a utilityvehicle front body cowl assembly. The cowl assembly generally comprisesa front body cowl and a cargo rack disposed within a reservoir or recessof the front body cowl. More particularly, the front body cowl isconnectable to at least a portion of a utility vehicle chassis forwardof a passenger compartment dash console of the vehicle, and comprises apair of opposing shoulders and a rack reservoir/recess provided betweenthe shoulders. The cargo rack is disposed within the reservoir/recesssuch that the cargo rack and any gear disposed with cargo rack createlittle or no impedance to a line-of-sight an operator of the vehicle 10.Accordingly, the front cowl assembly described below provides goodvisibility and a substantially unimpeded field-of-view for the vehicleoperator.

Other embodiments, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the described embodiments. It should be understood thatthe description and specific examples are intended for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the presentteachings.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle including a passenger compartment, arear cargo bed, and front cowl assembly having a front cowl and a frontcargo rack disposed forward of the passenger compartment, within areservoir of the cowl, and equal to or below high point plane of a dashconsole and instrument panel of vehicle, in accordance with variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a chassis and drivetrain of the vehicle shownin FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the vehicle and front cowl assembly shownin FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the vehicle and front cowl assembly shownin FIG. 1, wherein a cargo rack of the front cowl assembly is absent, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the front cowl assembly shown in FIG. 1, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the front cowl assembly shown in FIG. 1,in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the cargo rack of the front cowl assemblyshown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the vehicle and cowl assembly shown inFIG. 1 illustrating a removable access panel of the cowl assembly, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the followingdetailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and describedso that others skilled in the art can utilize their teachings.Throughout this specification, like reference numerals will be used torefer to like elements.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this disclosure belongs. The terminology used herein isfor the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and isnot intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well,unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,”“comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and thereforespecify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations,elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps,processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed asnecessarily requiring their performance in the particular orderdiscussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order ofperformance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternativesteps can be employed.

When an element, object, device, apparatus, component, region orsection, etc., is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to or with,”“connected to or with,” or “coupled to or with” another element, object,device, apparatus, component, region or section, etc., it can bedirectly on, engaged, connected or coupled to or with the other element,object, device, apparatus, component, region or section, etc., orintervening elements, objects, devices, apparatuses, components, regionsor sections, etc., can be present. In contrast, when an element, object,device, apparatus, component, region or section, etc., is referred to asbeing “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or“directly coupled to” another element, object, device, apparatus,component, region or section, etc., there may be no interveningelements, objects, devices, apparatuses, components, regions orsections, etc., present. Other words used to describe the relationshipbetween elements, objects, devices, apparatuses, components, regions orsections, etc., should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between”versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used herein todescribe various elements, objects, devices, apparatuses, components,regions or sections, etc., these elements, objects, devices,apparatuses, components, regions or sections, etc., should not belimited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish oneelement, object, device, apparatus, component, region or section, etc.,from another element, object, device, apparatus, component, region orsection, etc., and do not necessarily imply a sequence or order unlessclearly indicated by the context.

Moreover, it will be understood that various directions such as “upper”,“lower”, “bottom”, “top”, “left”, “right”, “first”, “second” and soforth are made only with respect to explanation in conjunction with thedrawings, and that components may be oriented differently, for instance,during transportation and manufacturing as well as operation. Becausemany varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope ofthe concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be madein the embodiments described herein, it is to be understood that thedetails herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and non-limiting.

As well, it should be understood that the drawings are intended toillustrate and plainly disclose presently envisioned embodiments to oneof skill in the art, but are not intended to be manufacturing leveldrawings or renditions of final products and may include simplifiedconceptual views to facilitate understanding or explanation. As well,the relative size and arrangement of the components may differ from thatshown and still operate within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in various embodiments, the presentdisclosure provides a utility vehicle 10 that generally includes apassenger compartment 12, a rear cargo bed 14, and front cowl assembly18 that includes a front cowl 22 and a front cargo rack 26 disposedforward of the passenger compartment 12 within a reservoir 24 of thecowl 22. Moreover, the front cargo rack 26 is disposed within thereservoir 24 such that at least a portion of cargo rack 26 is disposedat a height that is equal to or below a high point plane HPP of a dashconsole and instrument panel 30 of the vehicle 10. For simplicity, thedash console and instrument panel 30 will be referred to herein asmerely the dash console 30. The vehicle 10 further includes one or morefront wheels 38 operationally connected to a chassis 34 and/or otherframe structure of the vehicle 10, one or more rear wheels 40operationally connected to the chassis 34 and/or other frame structure,a drivetrain 42 operationally connected to at least one of the frontand/or rear wheels 38 and/or 40, and at least one prime mover. The primemover can comprise one of, or both of, an internal combustion engine(ICE) 44 and an electric motor 46.

As used herein, the word “forward” and the phase “forward of” are usedto describe the direction from a named component or structure toward thefront of the vehicle 10 along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle 10. Forexample, the statement that the front cargo rack 26 is disposed “forwardof” the passenger compartment 12 means the front cargo rack 26 isdisposed within an area that extends from the portion of the passengercompartment to the front of the vehicle 10 adjacent the front cowl 22.Similarly, as used herein, the word “rearward” and the phase “rearwardof” are used to describe the direction from a named component orstructure toward the rear of the vehicle 10 along a longitudinal axis ofthe vehicle 10.

The passenger compartment 12 generally includes the dash console 30, aseating structure 32 structured and operable to provide seating for oneor more vehicle occupants, e.g., a driver and one or more passengers, asteering wheel 28 for use by the vehicle operator to control thedirectional movement of the vehicle 10, a brake pedal (not shown) foruse by the vehicle operator to control slowing and stopping of thevehicle 10, and an accelerator pedal (not shown) for use by the vehicleoperator to control the torque delivered by the prime mover(s) 42 to oneor more of the rear and/or front wheels 40 and/or 38. The dash console30 generally has a top surface 30A and a front face 30B and isstructured and operable to retain, display and/or make accessible suchthings as an On/Off key switch, a forward/neutral/reverse selector, oneor more small accessory storage pockets, a speedometer, various othergauges and/or instrumentation, a radio, and/or various other vehiclecontrols.

Still further, in various embodiments, the vehicle 10 can include a rollover protection system (ROPS) 62 that is disposed above and around atleast a portion of the passenger compartment 12 and is structured andoperable to protect passengers within the passenger compartment 12 in asituation where the vehicle 10 may be caused to overturn or roll over.The ROPS 62 comprises a plurality of tubes, bars or beams that areconnected to the chassis 34 and extend above, over and around at least aportion of the passenger compartment 12. The ROPS 62 can be constructedor fabricated of any material having sufficient strength and rigidity toprovide protection to the passengers of the vehicle 10 should thevehicle 10 be upset and turned on its side or rolled over, e.g., highstrength steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, etc. Further yet, invarious embodiments that vehicle 10 can include a roof structure 102connected or mounted to at least a portion of the ROPS 62. The roofstructure is structured and operable to protect the passengercompartment 12, particularly passengers within the passenger compartment12, from environmental elements such as sun, rain, sleet, snow, etc.

The front cargo rack 26 is structured and operable for stowing personalgear, hand tools and other items that the vehicle operator may findundesirable to stow in a cargo bed 14 of the vehicle 10. For example,the front cargo rack 26 can be used to stow such things as backpacks,duffle bags, sleeping bags, smaller camping equipment, rifles, handguns,bows, hand tools, etc. In contrast, the cargo bed 14 is generallydesigned for hauling various payloads such as gravel, rock, soil,debris, garbage, wood, etc., and/or larger tools and equipment such asshovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, lawn mowers, chain saws, other motorizedequipment, etc. In various implementations, the cargo bed 14 can be afixed or stationary bed, wherein the cargo bed 14 is fixedly connectedto the chassis 34 and/or other frame structure. Alternatively, in otherimplementations the cargo bed 14 can be a lift or dump bed, wherein thevehicle 10 includes a lift mechanism (not shown) that is operable tolift a front portion of the cargo bed 14 (i.e., the portion of the cargobed 14 nearest the passenger compartment 12) in order to dump or easilyextract items or materials from the cargo bed 14.

In various implementations wherein the vehicle 10 includes the ICE 44,the vehicle 10 additionally includes a transmission 48 operablyconnected to the ICE 44, e.g., directly mounted to the ICE 44 orconnected via one or more drive shaft(s) 50. The transmission 48 isstructured and operable to receive torque (e.g., motive force) generatedby the ICE 44 and deliver the torque to one or more of the rear and/orfront wheels 40 and/or 38, via the drive shaft(s) 50, a reardifferential 52 and/or a front differential 54, a rear axle 56 and/or afront axle 58. In various embodiments, the transmission 48 and one ofthe rear or front differentials 52 or 54 can be replaced with atransaxle and remain within the scope of the present disclosure.Additionally, each of the rear and/or front axle(s) 56 and/or 58 can beeither a split axle for an independent suspension system, or a one-pieceaxle, and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. In variousimplementations wherein the vehicle 10 includes the electric motor 46,the electric motor 46 can generate and provide torque directly to thefront or rear axle 58 or 56, or can be configured to work in conjunctionwith the ICE 44 to generate and deliver torque to one or more of thefront and/or rear wheels 38 and/or 40 via the drive shaft(s) 50,transmission 48, rear and/or front differential 52 and/or 54, and rearand/or front axles 56 and/or 58.

Although the vehicle 10 will be generally described and shown herein asa side-by-side all-terrain, off-road utility vehicle, it should beunderstood that the features disclosed herein can have application tovarious types of off-road, all-terrain utility vehicles such asall-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility task vehicles (UTVs), recreationaloff-highway vehicles (ROVs), etc. Additionally, in various embodiments,the vehicle 10 can be structured to have a single seat, while in variousother embodiments, the vehicle 10 can have one or more seats configuredin a side-by-side seating arrangement, such as can be provided by one ormore bench seats each capable of seating two or more passengers or byone or more row of two or more laterally spaced independent seatspositioned in a side-by-side arrangement. Additionally, it should beunderstood that the vehicle 10 can be configured as (e.g., thedrivetrain 42 of vehicle 10 can be configured to provide) a 4-wheeldrive (4WD) vehicle or a 2-wheel drive (2WD) vehicle, and remain withinthe scope of the present disclosure. In various embodiments in which thedrivetrain 42 of vehicle 10 is configured to provide a 2WD vehicle, thevehicle 10 can be driven by the rear wheels (e.g., a rear wheel drivevehicle) and/or by the front wheels (e.g., a front wheel drive vehicle).In some embodiments in which the vehicle 10 can be configured as a 4WDvehicle, the vehicle 10 can be selectively operated in two or more drivemodes, such as a 2WD mode and a 4WD mode, through actuation of a switchor other user input device that can be disposed on the instrument panel30.

Furthermore, it should be understood that, based on the particularconfiguration of the prime mover, that is, based on whether the vehicle10 includes just the ICE 44, just the electric motor 46, or both the ICE44 and the electric motor 46, and whether the vehicle 10 is configuredas a 4WD vehicle or a 2WD vehicle, the drivetrain 42 can comprise any orall of, individually or in any combination, the transmission 48, thedrive shaft(s) 50, the rear differential 52 the rear axle 56, the frontdifferential 54, and the front axle 58. In some embodiments in which thevehicle 10 includes a rear differential 52 and/or front differential 54,the vehicle 10 can be selectively operated in one or more drive modesdefined based at least in part on whether the rear differential 52and/or front differential 54 is locked or unlocked. Such drive modescan, for example, be selectable through actuation of a switch or otheruser input device that can be disposed on the instrument panel 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the front cowl assembly18 is at least partially connected to the vehicle chassis 34 and, asdescribed above, comprises the front cowl 22 and the front cargo rack 26disposed within the reservoir 24 of the front cowl 22, forward of thepassenger compartment 12. The front cowl 22 comprises the reservoir 24disposed between a pair of opposing shoulders 25 (best shown in FIG. 4),wherein the reservoir 24 comprises at least a back wall 70, a pair ofopposing sidewalls 74 and a bottom panel 78. As best illustrated in FIG.7, the cargo rack 26 comprises a bottom or base structure 82, a frontwall structure 86 extending upward from the base structure 82 and havinga top edge 88, a pair of opposing sidewall structures 90 extendingupward from the base structure 82 and having a top edge 94, and a backwall structure 98 extending upward from the base structure 82 and havinga top edge 102. The top edges 88, 94 and 102 of the front wall structure86, sidewall structures 90 and back wall structure 98 collectively forma top perimeter edge 106 of the cargo rack 26.

The cargo rack base structure 82, front wall structure 86, sidewallstructures 90 and back wall structure 98 can be fabricated of anmaterial and having any form or structure suitable to provide a basestructure on which cargo can be placed and wall structures operable toretain cargo within the cargo rack 26. For example, in variousembodiments, one or more of the base structure 82, front wall structure86, sidewall structures 90 and back wall structure 98 can be a solid,perforated or mesh panel connected to a skeletal frame or basket toprovide the cargo rack 26. Such panel(s) can be fabricated of anysuitable material, e.g., plastic, metal, fiberglass, polycarbonate, etc.In various other embodiments, the cargo rack 26 can be molded, cast orstamped as a single-piece plastic, metal, fiberglass, polycarbonate,etc., rack or basket. In yet other embodiments, as illustratedthroughout the various figures, the cargo rack 26 can be fabricated oftubing, rods or bars, fabricated of plastic, metal, fiberglass,polycarbonate, etc., that are interconnected to form a skeletal frame orbasket.

The size and shape of the cowl reservoir 24 (e.g., the height, shape andlength of the back wall 70 and sidewalls 74), and the size and shape ofthe cargo rack 26 (e.g., the height, shape and length of front wallstructure 86, sidewall structures 90, and back wall structure 98) aresuch that at least a portion of the cargo rack 26 is located at a heightthat is equal to or below a high point plane HPP of the vehicle dashconsole 30, relative to a plane LFP of a lower frame 34A of the vehiclechassis 34 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 5). The lower chassis frame plane LFPextends horizontally across the lower frame 34A of the chassis 34 (e.g.,extends from a bottom of the lower chassis 34A substantially horizontaland parallel to a ground surface S on which the vehicle 10 sets). Thehigh point plane HPP of the dash console 30 is defined herein as ahorizontal plane (e.g., a plane that is substantially horizontal andparallel to the ground surface S) extending through a high point DHP ofthe top surface 30A of a driver's side half of the dash console 30 (asshown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6). The driver's side half of the dash console30 being the portion of the dash console that is generally disposed onthe driver's half of the passenger compartment within a line-of-sight(LOS) of the driver as the driver looks forward across the front cowlassembly 18 toward the terrain in front of the vehicle 10. The highpoint DHP of the dash console 30 is defined herein as the point alongthe top surface 30A of dash console 30 that is the greatest distance(shown as dash high point distance DHPD in FIGS. 1 and 5) from the lowerchassis frame plane LFP. The dash console high point DHP can be locatedanywhere along the top surface 30A of the entire dash console 30depending on the shape and orientation of the dash console 30. Forexample, the dash console high point DHP can be located along topsurface 30A of an instrument panel portion of the dash console 30 (asshown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6) on the driver's side half of the dash console30.

For example, in various embodiments, a lower portion of one or more ofthe cargo rack front wall structure 86, sidewall structures 90, and backwall structure 98 can be located at a height that is below the highpoint plane HPP, while an upper portion of one or more of the cargo rackfront wall structure 86, sidewall structures 90, and back wall structure98 is located above the HPP. By way of another example, in variousembodiments, at least a portion of the perimeter edge 106 of the rackcan be located at a height that is equal to or below the high pointplane HPP of the vehicle dash console 30, relative to the lower chassisframe plane LFP, while at least another portion of the perimeter edge106 of the rack, and possibly a portion of one or more of the front wallstructure 86, sidewall structures 90, and back wall structure 98, islocated above the HPP.

By way of yet another example, in various embodiments, it is envisionedthat a high point FBHP of one or both of the cargo rack front wallstructure top edge 88 and/or back wall structure top edge 102 can belocated at a height that is equal to or below the high point plane HPPof the vehicle dash console 30. In such embodiments a high point of oneor both side wall structure top edges 94 can be above the high pointplane HPP. The high point FBHP of the cargo rack cargo rack front wallstructure top edge 88 and/or back wall structure top edge 102 is definedherein as the point along the cargo rack front wall structure top edge88 and/or back wall structure top edge 102 that is the greatest distance(shown as rack high point distance RHPD in FIGS. 1 and 5) from the lowerchassis frame plane LFP. The high point FBHP of the cargo rack frontwall structure top edge 88 and/or back wall structure top edge 102 canbe located anywhere along the cargo rack front wall structure top edge88 and/or back wall structure top edge 102 depending on the shape andorientation of the cargo rack 26.

By way of still yet another example, in various embodiments, the cowlreservoir 24 and cargo rack 26 can be sized and shaped such that a highpoint RHP of the cargo rack perimeter edge 106 can be located at aheight that is equal to or below the high point plane HPP of the vehicledash console 30, relative to the lower chassis frame plane LFP. The highpoint RHP of the cargo rack perimeter edge 106 is defined herein as thepoint along the perimeter edge 106 that is the greatest distance (shownas rack high point distance RHPD in FIGS. 1 and 5) from the lowerchassis frame plane LFP. The rack high point RHP of the perimeter edge106 can be located anywhere along the entire perimeter edge 106depending on the shape and orientation of the cargo rack 26. Forexample, the high point RHP of the rack perimeter edge 106 can belocated at the end of one or both of the top edge(s) 94 of one or bothof the sidewall structure(s) 90 (as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7), alongthe top edge 88 of the front wall structure 86 (as shown in FIG. 1), oranywhere else along the perimeter edge 106 depending on the shape andorientation of the cargo rack 26.

Importantly, the cowl rack assembly 18 is structured, e.g., cowlreservoir 24 and cargo rack 26 are sized and shaped, such that at leasta portion of the of the cargo rack 26 is located at a height that isequal to or below the high point plane HPP of the vehicle dash console30. Moreover, having the cargo rack 26 disposed within the cowlreservoir 24, as described above, positions the cargo rack 26 and anygear disposed with the cargo rack 26 in a location that is less likelyto impede a line-of-sight LOS of an operator of the vehicle 10. Hence,the front cowl assembly 18 as described herein provides more visibilityand a greater field-of-view for the vehicle operator than known vehiclesthat have cargo racks disposed above the top surface of the front cowlsuch that they substantially impeded the line-of-sight and field-of-viewof an operator of the vehicle.

In various embodiments, the cargo rack 26 can be fixedly connected ormounted to the cowl 22 within the reservoir 24. In such embodiments, thecargo rack 26 can be mounted to the cowl 22 using any suitable fasteningdevice or method. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in variousimplementations, the cargo rack 26 can be mounted to the cowl 22 using aplurality of stand-off brackets 110 that are structured and operable tomount the cargo rack 26 to the cowl 22 such that the cargo rack 26 isretained a distance above the reservoir bottom panel 78. This allowsaccess to the space between the reservoir bottom panel 78 and the cargorack base structure 82, which can aid in securing items within the cargorack 26. Alternatively, in various other embodiments, the cargo rack 26can be removably connected or mounted to the cowl 22 within thereservoir 24 using any suitable engageable/disengageable latching,clasping or decoupling retention device. Still further, in variousembodiments, the cargo rack 26 can be pivotally or hingedly connected tothe cowl 22 within the reservoir 24 such that one edge of the basestructure 82 or a portion of the perimeter edge 106 is pivotally orhingedly connected to the cowl 22 and one or more of the other edges ofthe base structure 82 and/or portions of the perimeter edge 106 areremovably connected to the cowl 22 via any suitableengageable/disengageable latching, clasping or decoupling retentiondevice.

In various embodiments, the cowl assembly 18 can include a front fascia114 that is structured and operable to retain and position one or moreheadlights of the vehicle 10. In various instances of such embodiments,the front fascia 114 can have a shape and contour such that a topsurface of the fascia 114 has a contour, or shape, that is substantiallythe same as the contour, or shape, of the cowl shoulders 25 andreservoir 24.

Additionally, in various embodiments, the cowl assembly 18 can include abrush guard 118 that is operably connected or mounted to the chassis 34and disposed forward of the cowl 22 (and fascia 114 if present),relative to the passenger compartment 12. The brush guard 118 isstructured and operable to protect the front of the vehicle 10, e.g.,the cowl 22 and/or front fascia 114, from damage by such things asbushes, branches, weeds, small trees, etc., that may come into contactwith cowl assembly 18 during operation of the vehicle 10. In variousinstances of such embodiments, the cargo rack 26 can be sized to extendbeyond the front edge of the cowl 22, or front fascia 114 (if present),such that the front edge of the cargo rack base structure 82 can beconnected to the brush guard 118. In such instances, the front edge ofthe cargo rack base structure 82 can be fixedly connected to the brushguard 118 using any suitable fastening device or method, removablyconnected to the to the brush guard 118 any suitableengageable/disengageable latching, clasping or decoupling retentiondevice, or hingedly connected to the brush guard using any suitablehinged connection device.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8, in the various embodiments whereinthe cargo rack 26 is fabricated of tubing, rods or bars that areinterconnected to form a skeletal frame or basket, the cargo rack 26 canadditionally include a floor panel 122 that is disposable or disposedover, and in various instances connectable or connected to, the basestructure 82. The floor panel 122 is structured and operable to providea greater amount of surface area for supporting cargo disposed withinthe rack 26 than is provided by the skeletal frame of the base structure82 alone. In various embodiments, the floor panel 122 can comprise oneor more tie-down aperture 126 that can be used to hook elastic cords orstraps into, or to insert rope, string or cording through, in order toaid in securing cargo within the rack 26.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 8, in various embodiments the bottom panel78 of the rack reservoir 24 can include, or be structured and operableto provide, an access panel 130 that can be opened or removed to provideaccess to components of the vehicle 10 that are located below the cowl22. For example, in various instances, the bottom panel 78 can comprisea frame portion that defines an opening and the access panel 130 that ishingedly or removably connected to the frame portion. Accordingly, theaccess panel 130 can be raised/opened or removed to allow access to thevehicle components located beneath the cowl 22, and lowered/closed orinstalled to cover the opening and the vehicle components locatedbeneath the cowl 22. In such instances, the access panel 130 can behingedly connected and/or removably connected to the frame portion viaany suitable hinged connector, and/or any suitableengageable/disengageable fastening device.

Alternatively, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 8, in variousinstances, the bottom panel 78 can be structured and operable toprovide, or serve as, the access panel 130. That is, in such instances,the bottom panel 78 is hingedly or removably connected to one or more ofthe reservoir back wall 70 and/or reservoir sidewalls 74 and/or frontfascia 114 (if present). Accordingly, the bottom/access panel 78/130 canbe raised/opened or removed to allow access to the vehicle componentslocated beneath the cowl 22, and lowered/closed or installed to coverthe opening and the vehicle components located beneath the cowl 22. Thebottom/access panel 78/130 can be hingedly connected and/or removablyconnected to the one or more of reservoir back wall 70 and/or reservoirsidewalls 74 and/or front fascia 114 (if present) via any suitablehinged connector, and/or any suitable engageable/disengageable latching,clasping or decoupling retention device.

The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus,variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is describedare intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Moreover, althoughthe foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exampleembodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elementsand/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinationsof elements and/or functions can be provided by alternative embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. Such variations andalternative combinations of elements and/or functions are not to beregarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cargo rack for a utility vehicle, said cargorack comprising: a base structure: a front wall structure extendingupward from the base structure and having a top edge; a pair of opposingsidewall structures, each sidewall extending upward from the basestructure and having a top edge; and a back wall structure extendingupward from the base structure and having a top edge, wherein the cargorack base structure is structured to be disposed within a reservoir of avehicle front body cowl such that the entirety of the cargo rack basestructure is disposed within the cowl reservoir.
 2. The cargo rack ofclaim 1, wherein the cargo rack is structured such that when the cargorack is disposed within the cowl reservoir, at least a portion of atleast one of the front wall structure, the sidewall structures and theback wall structure is below a height of a high point plane of a topsurface of a dash console of the vehicle, relative to a plane of achassis lower frame of the vehicle.
 3. The cargo rack of claim 1,wherein the top edges of the front wall, sidewalls and back wallcollectively form a perimeter edge of the cargo rack, and wherein thecargo rack is structured such that when the cargo rack is disposedwithin the cowl reservoir, at least a portion of the perimeter edge, isone of below and equal to a height of a high point plane of a topsurface of a dash console of the vehicle, relative to a plane of achassis lower frame of the vehicle.
 4. The cargo rack of claim 1,wherein the top edges of the front wall, sidewalls and back wallcollectively form a perimeter edge of the cargo rack, and wherein thecargo rack is structured such that when the cargo rack is disposedwithin the cowl reservoir, a high point of the perimeter edge is one ofbelow and equal to a height of a high point plane of a top surface of adash console of the vehicle, relative to a plane of a chassis lowerframe of the vehicle.
 5. A utility vehicle front body cowl assembly,said assembly comprising a front body cowl connectable to at least aportion of a utility vehicle chassis forward of a passenger compartmentdash console of the vehicle, the front body cowl comprising: a pair ofopposing shoulders; and a cargo rack reservoir provided between theshoulders; and a cargo rack comprising a base structure, the cargo rackdisposed within the reservoir such that the entirety of the cargo rackbase structure is disposed within the reservoir.
 6. The assembly ofclaim 5, wherein the cargo rack further comprises: a front wallstructure extending upward from the base structure and having a topedge; a pair of opposing sidewall structures, each sidewall extendingupward from the base structure and having a top edge; and a back wallstructure extending upward from the base structure and having a topedge, wherein the top edges of the front wall, sidewalls and back wallcollectively form a perimeter edge of the cargo rack, and wherein whenthe cowl assembly is connected to the vehicle chassis, at least aportion of at least one of the front wall structure, the sidewallstructures and the back wall structure is below a height of a high pointplane of a top surface of the dash console, relative to the plane of thechassis lower frame.
 7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein when the cowlassembly is connected to the vehicle chassis, at least a portion of theperimeter edge, is one of below and equal to a height of the high pointplane of a top surface of the dash console, relative to the plane of thechassis lower frame.
 8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein when the cowlassembly is connected to the vehicle chassis, a height of a high pointof the perimeter edge, is one of below and equal to a height of a highpoint plane of a top surface of the dash console, relative to the planeof the chassis lower frame.
 9. The assembly of claim 5 furthercomprising a brush guard operatively connectable to the chassis anddisposed forward of the front body cowl, relative to the passengercompartment, wherein the cargo rack is pivotally connected to the brushguard.
 10. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the reservoir comprises abottom panel, a pair of sidewalls and a back wall, wherein the bottompanel comprises an access panel structured and operable to provideaccess to vehicle components disposed beneath the front body cowl whenthe body cowl is connected to the chassis.
 11. A utility vehicle, saidvehicle comprising: a chassis; a plurality of wheels operationallyconnected to the chassis; a drivetrain operatively connected to at leastone of the wheels; at least one prime mover mounted to the chassis andoperatively connected to the drivetrain and structured and operable toprovide motive force, via the drivetrain, to the at least one wheeloperatively connected to the drivetrain; a passenger compartmentsupported by the chassis, the passenger compartment comprising: a dashconsole comprising a front face and a top surface; a steering wheel; anda passenger seating structure; and a front body cowl assembly, the cowlassembly comprising: a front body cowl connected to at least a portionof a utility vehicle chassis, the cowl comprising: a pair of opposingshoulders; and a cargo rack reservoir provided between the shoulders,the rack reservoir structured and operable to accommodate a basestructure of a cargo rack.
 12. The utility vehicle of claim 11, whereinthe cargo rack reservoir is structure and operable to accommodate anentirety of the base structure of the cargo rack.
 13. The utilityvehicle of claim 11, wherein the pair of opposing shoulders define apair of opposing sidewalls of the cargo rack reservoir, wherein aforward end of each opposing sidewall of the cargo rack reservoir ispositioned closer to a longitudinal center line of the utility vehiclethan a rearward end of each opposing sidewall.
 14. The utility vehicleof claim 11, wherein a width of the cargo rack reservoir tapers from aback wall of the cargo rack reservoir to a forward edge of the cargorack reservoir.
 15. The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the cargorack reservoir comprises a bottom panel, the bottom panel comprising aremovable access panel structured and operable to provide access to oneor more vehicle components disposed beneath the front body cowl.
 16. Theutility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the cargo rack reservoir comprisesa plurality of mounting bracket receptacles, the mounting bracketreceptacles configured to receive mounting brackets structured andoperable to mount the cargo rack to the cowl within the cargo rackreservoir.
 17. The utility vehicle of claim 11 further comprising thecargo rack, wherein the cargo rack disposed within the reservoir suchthat the entirety of the cargo rack base structure is disposed withinthe reservoir.
 18. The vehicle of claims 17, wherein the cargo rackfurther comprises: a front wall structure extending upward from the basestructure and having a top edge; a pair of opposing sidewall structures,each sidewall extending upward from the base structure and having a topedge; and a back wall structure extending upward from the base structureand having a top edge, wherein the top edges of the front wall,sidewalls and back wall collectively form a perimeter edge of the cargorack, and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the front wallstructure, the sidewall structures and the back wall structure is belowa height of a high point plane of a top surface of the dash console,relative to the plane of the chassis lower frame.
 19. The vehicle ofclaim 18, wherein a height of a high point of the perimeter edge, is oneof below and equal to a height of a high point plane of the dash consoletop surface, relative to the plane of the chassis lower frame.
 20. Thevehicle of claim 17 further comprising a brush guard fixedly connectedto the chassis and disposed forward of the front body cowl, relative tothe passenger compartment, wherein the cargo rack is pivotally connectedto the brush guard.